UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2025
☐
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the Transition Period from ___________ to ___________
Commission
File Number: 001-40739
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in the charter)
Delaware
86-3218736
(State
or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S.
Employer
incorporation
or organization)
Identification
Number)
3525
Del Mar Heights Rd. , #322 , San Diego , CA
92130
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(Zip
Code)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: 858 - 800-2543
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name
of each exchange on which registered
Common
Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
DRMA
The
Nasdaq Capital Market
Warrants,
exercisable for one share of Common Stock
DRMAW
The
Nasdaq Capital Market
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”
“smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated
filer
☐
Non-accelerated
Filer
☒
Smaller
reporting company
☒
Emerging
growth company
☒
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No.
There
were 6,378,118 shares of Common Stock, par value $ 0.0001 , of Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. issued and outstanding as of May 12, 2025.
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Form
10-Q
Table
of Contents
INDEX
Page
No.
Part I
Financial Information
3
Item 1:
Financial Statements (unaudited)
3
Balance Sheets
3
Statements of Operations
4
Statements of Stockholders’
Equity
5
Statements of Cash Flows
7
Notes to Financial Statements
8
Item 2:
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
21
Item 3:
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
30
Item 4:
Controls and Procedures
30
Part II
Other Information
31
Item 1:
Legal Proceedings
31
Item 1A:
Risk Factors
31
Item 2:
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
31
Item 3:
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
31
Item 4:
Mine Safety Disclosures
31
Item 5:
Other Information
31
Item 6:
Exhibits
32
Signatures
33
2
PART
I
ITEM
1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Balance
Sheets
March
31, 2025
December
31, 2024
(unaudited)
Assets:
Cash and cash
equivalents
$ 9,719,268
$ 3,161,570
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
285,739
372,318
Total assets
$ 10,005,007
$ 3,533,888
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 1,395,313
$ 808,011
Accrued
and other current liabilities
1,308,472
1,164,783
Total liabilities
2,703,785
1,972,794
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 6)
-
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common Stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share,
250,000,000 shares authorized; 6,032,648 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025; 2,517,768 shares issued and outstanding
as of December 31, 2024
603
252
Additional paid-in capital
75,279,545
67,236,181
Accumulated
deficit
( 67,978,926 )
( 65,675,339 )
Total
stockholders’ equity
7,301,222
1,561,094
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity
$ 10,005,007
$ 3,533,888
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
3
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements
of Operations
(unaudited)
2025
2024
For
the three months ended
March
31,
2025
2024
Operating expenses:
Research and
development
$ 1,281,141
$ 1,600,741
General
and administrative
1,058,662
1,602,819
Total
operating expenses
2,339,803
3,203,560
Loss
from operations
( 2,339,803 )
( 3,203,560 )
Other income and expenses:
Interest
income
36,216
69,298
Net loss
$ ( 2,303,587 )
$ ( 3,134,262 )
Net loss per share of
Common Stock, basic and diluted
$ ( 0.45 )
$ ( 7.06 )
Weighted-average basic and diluted Common Stock
5,154,698
443,998
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements
of Stockholder’s Equity
(unaudited)
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Accumulated
Total
Stockholders’
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2024
2,517,768
$ 252
$ 67,236,181
$ ( 65,675,339 )
$ 1,561,094
Stock-based compensation
-
-
37,189
-
37,189
Issuance of Common Stock and warrants from
January 2025 PIPE, net of issuance costs
1,935,412
193
2,254,528
-
2,254,721
Issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of pre-funded
warrants
977,468
98
879
-
977
Issuance of Common Stock and warrants from
March 2025 Warrant Inducement, net of issuance costs
602,000
60
5,750,768
-
5,750,828
Net loss
-
-
-
( 2,303,587 )
( 2,303,587 )
Balance at March 31, 2025
6,032,648
$ 603
$ 75,279,545
$ ( 67,978,926 )
$ 7,301,222
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements
of Stockholder’s Equity
(unaudited)
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Accumulated
Total
Stockholders’
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2023
261,998
$ 26
$ 59,742,870
$ ( 53,387,878 )
$ 6,355,018
Balance
261,998
$ 26
$ 59,742,870
$ ( 53,387,878 )
$ 6,355,018
Stock-based compensation
-
-
587,234
-
587,234
Issuance of abeyance shares
182,000
18
( 18 )
-
-
Net loss
-
-
-
( 3,134,262 )
( 3,134,262 )
Balance at March 31, 2024
443,998
$ 44
$ 60,330,086
$ ( 56,522,140 )
$ 3,807,990
Balance
443,998
$ 44
$ 60,330,086
$ ( 56,522,140 )
$ 3,807,990
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
6
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements
of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
2025
2024
For
the three months ended
March
31,
2025
2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ ( 2,303,587 )
$ ( 3,134,262 )
Adjustments to reconcile
net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation
37,189
587,234
Increase (decrease) in
cash resulting from changes in:
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets
86,579
94,424
Accounts payable
102,064
( 43,482 )
Accrued
and other current liabilities
143,689
( 208,368 )
Total
adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations
369,521
429,808
Net cash used in operating
activities
( 1,934,066 )
( 2,704,454 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance
of Common Stock, pre-funded warrants, and warrants, net of issuance costs
8,541,282
-
Proceeds from exercise
of pre-funded warrants
977
-
Payment
of prior period issuance costs
( 50,495 )
-
Net
cash provided by financing activities
8,491,764
-
Net increase (decrease)
in Cash and cash equivalents
6,557,698
( 2,704,454 )
Cash and cash equivalents
at beginning of period
3,161,570
7,438,135
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of period
$ 9,719,268
$ 4,733,681
Non-cash financing activities:
Issuance of abeyance shares
$ -
$ ( 18 )
January 2025 PIPE issuance
costs in accounts payable
$ 79,102
$ -
March 2025 Warrant Inducement
issuance costs in accounts payable
$ 456,631
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
7
DERMATA
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes
to Financial Statements
(unaudited)
1.
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Dermata
Therapeutics, Inc., (the “Company”), was formed in December 2014 as a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”)
under the name Dermata Therapeutics, LLC. On March 24, 2021, the Company converted from an LLC to a Delaware C-corporation and changed
its name to Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. The Company is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the treatment of medical and
aesthetic skin conditions and diseases.
Reverse
Stock Splits
On
May 7, 2024, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders at which time the stockholders approved the adoption of an amendment
to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio determined by the Company’s
board of directors without further approval or authorization of its stockholders. On May 16, 2024, the Company effected the reverse split
of its shares of Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-15, as approved by the Company’s board of directors . The par value was not adjusted
as a result of the May 2024 reverse stock split. All issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and per share amounts contained in
the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split for all periods presented.
Liquidity
and Going Concern Uncertainty
Since
its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its resources to research and development activities and has not generated
any revenue or commercialized any product candidates. As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents totaled $ 9.7 million and the Company
had an accumulated deficit of $ 68.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company
used cash of $ 1.9 million and approximately $ 11.1 million, respectively, in operations. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents
are expected to fund operations into the first quarter of 2026. The Company anticipates that it will continue to incur net losses for
the foreseeable future. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the
one-year period following the date that these financial statements were issued.
Historically,
the Company’s principal sources of cash have included proceeds from the issuance of equity securities and debt. The Company’s
principal uses of cash have included cash used in operations and payments for license rights. The Company expects that the principal
uses of cash in the future will be for continuing operations, funding of research and development, conducting preclinical studies and
clinical trials, and general working capital requirements. The Company expects that as research and development expenses continue to
grow, it will need to raise additional capital to sustain operations and research and development.
Management’s
Plan to Continue as a Going Concern
To
continue as a going concern, the Company will need, among other things, to raise additional capital resources. Until the Company can
generate significant cash from operations, management’s plans to obtain such resources for the Company include proceeds from offerings
of the Company’s equity securities or debt, or transactions involving product development, technology licensing or collaboration.
Management can provide no assurance that any sources of a sufficient amount of financing or collaboration agreements will be available
to the Company on favorable terms, if at all. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by potential
worsening of global economic conditions, potential future global pandemics or health crises, and the disruptions to, and volatility in,
the credit and financial markets in the United States. Because of historical and expected operating losses and net operating cash flow
deficits, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the issuance
of the financial statements, which is not alleviated by management’s plans. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible
future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from
the possible inability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
8
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, since they are interim statements, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information
and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect
all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results
of operations, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative
of results for a full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially
from those estimates. The unaudited financial statements included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited financial
statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 17, 2025, which includes a broader discussion of the Company’s
business and the risks inherent therein.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use
of Estimates
The
Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these
estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued research and development expenses. The Company bases its estimates on various
assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions
or conditions.
Segment
Information
Operating
segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief
operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company and
the Company’s chief operating decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business in one operating segment,
which is the business of developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents with accredited financial institutions that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (“FDIC”), which are held in checking and cash sweep accounts. At times, deposits held may exceed the amount of
insurance provided by the FDIC. The Company maintains an insured cash sweep account in which cash from its main operating checking account
is invested overnight in highly liquid, short-term investments. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date
of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Concentrations
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The
Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding the Company’s cash and cash equivalents
to the extent of the amounts held in excess of FDIC limits. The Company limits its credit risk by placing its cash and cash equivalents
with financial institutions it believes are of high quality. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash
and cash equivalents.
9
Fair
Value Measurement
The
Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the Company’s fair value measurements. These tiers
include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; Level 2, defined as inputs
other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs
in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. The Company believes the carrying
amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their estimated fair values due to the short-term
nature of these assets and liabilities.
Interest
Income
Interest
income consists of interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents from interest bearing demand accounts.
Patent
Costs
Patent
costs related to obtaining and maintaining patent protection in both the United States and other countries are expensed as incurred.
Patents costs are classified as general and administrative expenses.
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with the development of the Company’s product candidates. Such
expenses include expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, manufacturing and supply scale-up expenses
and the cost of acquiring and manufacturing preclinical and clinical trial supply, outsourced laboratory services, including materials
and supplies used to support the Company’s research and development activities, and payments made for license fees and milestones
that have not been demonstrated to have commercial value. Such costs are expensed in the periods in which they are incurred. Upfront
payments and milestone payments for licensed technology are expensed as research and development as incurred or when the milestone is
achieved or is determined to be probable of being achieved. Advanced payments for goods or services to be received in the future for
research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and expensed as the related goods are received or services are performed.
Income
Taxes
The
Company is a C-Corporation and accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred
tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under
this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and
tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment
date.
The
Company recognizes net deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized.
In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing
taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management
determines that the Company would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, management
would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.
The
Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) management determines whether it is more likely
than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions
that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, management recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50
percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties
related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. Any accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax
liability.
10
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees, directors, and non-employees, based
on estimated fair values recognized using the straight-line method over the requisite service period. The fair value of options to purchase
Common Stock granted to employees is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The calculation of stock-based
compensation expense requires that the Company make certain assumptions and judgments about variables used in the Black-Scholes model,
including the expected term of the stock-based award, expected volatility of the underlying Common Stock, dividend yield, and the risk-free
interest rate. Forfeitures are accounted for in the period they occur.
Warrants
The
Company performs an assessment of warrants upon issuance to determine their proper classification in the financial statements based upon
the warrant’s specific terms, in accordance with the authoritative guidance provided in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) , and
ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (“ASC 815-40”) . The assessment
considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480 and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements
for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed in the Company’s own Common Stock and whether
the warrant holders could potentially require cash settlement of the warrants.
For
issued or modified warrants that meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component
of additional paid-in capital. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants
are required to be liability-classified and recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and remeasured at fair value
at each balance sheet date thereafter. The Company has performed an assessment of all warrants issued and modified and determined that
the Company’s warrants are equity-classified.
Comprehensive
Loss
Comprehensive
loss includes net loss and other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented. The Company did not have other comprehensive
income (loss) items such as unrealized gains and losses and so for the periods presented, comprehensive loss was equal to the net loss.
Net
Loss Per Share of Common Stock
Basic
net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding
during the period. The weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding includes (i) pre-funded warrants because their exercise
requires only nominal consideration for the delivery of shares, and (ii) shares held in abeyance because there is no consideration required
for delivery of the shares, (collectively, “basic shares”), without consideration of common stock equivalents. Diluted net
loss per share is calculated by adjusting basic shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for
the period. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, stock options and warrants are considered to be common stock
equivalents but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common stock if their effect would be anti-dilutive.
The
common share equivalents that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share of Common Stock but could potentially
dilute basic earnings per share in the future are as follows:
Schedule
of Potentially Diluted Basic Earnings Per Share
2025
2024
As of
March 31,
2025
2024
Common Stock options
204,841
27,341
Common Stock warrants
12,389,769
557,246
Total potentially dilutive
securities
12,594,610
584,587
11
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
For
the three months ended March 31, 2025 , the Company has reviewed recent accounting standards and identified the following as relevant
to the Company.
In
December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”) .
ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information
on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities with annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early
adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements and income tax footnote.
In
November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”) . ASU 2024-03
requires additional disclosures and disaggregation of certain costs and expenses presented on the face of the income statement. ASU 2024-03
is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15,
2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.
3.
Balance Sheet Details
The
following provides certain balance sheet details:
Schedule of Balance Sheet Details
March 31,
December 31,
2025
2024
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Prepaid insurance
$ 208,228
$ 349,824
Prepaid research and development
costs
2,000
12,600
Prepaid
other and other current assets
75,511
9,894
Total prepaid expenses
and other current assets
$ 285,739
$ 372,318
Accrued and other current liabilities:
Accrued research and development
costs
$ 158,353
$ 295,392
Accrued compensation and
benefits
961,759
731,632
Accrued
other
188,360
137,759
Total accrued and other
current liabilities
$ 1,308,472
$ 1,164,783
4.
Equity Securities
A
summary of the Company’s equity securities as of March 31, 2025 , is as follows:
Schedule
of Equity Securities
Description
Authorized
Issued
Abeyance
Reserved
Outstanding
Common Stock, par value $0.0001
250,000,000
6,032,648
4,232,470
-
6,032,648
Preferred Stock
10,000,000
-
-
-
-
Warrants
-
12,389,769
-
-
12,389,769
2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive
Plan
-
205,755
-
63
204,841
Total equity securities
260,000,000
18,628,172
4,232,470
63
18,627,258
Common
Stock
On
March 27, 2025, the Company entered into an inducement offer letter agreement (the “March 2025 Inducement Letter”) with a
holder (the “Holder”) of certain of its existing warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,834,470 shares of the Company’s
common stock. Such existing warrants were made up of (i) certain of the May 17, 2024 (the “May 2024 Warrants”), which were
issued in two separate series, having an exercise price of $ 4.91 per share, and (ii) the September 16, 2024, which were issued in two
separate series, having an exercise price of $ 1.58 per share (the “September 2024 Warrants” and together with the May 2024
Warrants, the “Existing Warrants”). Pursuant to the March 2025 Inducement Letter, the Holder agreed to exercise for cash
its Existing Warrants at a reduced exercise price of $ 1.284 per share in consideration for the Company’s agreement to issue in
a private placement (i) new Series A common stock purchase warrants (the “New Series A Warrants”) to purchase up to 4,980,806
shares of Common Stock (the “New Series A Warrant Shares”) and (ii) new Series B common stock purchase warrants (the “New
Series B Warrants” and together with the New Series A Warrants, the “New Warrants”) to purchase up to 4,688,134 shares
of Common Stock (the “New Series B Warrant Shares” and together with the New Series A Warrant Shares, the “New Warrant
Shares”). The Company received net proceeds of approximately $ 5.8 million from the exercise of the Existing Warrants by the Holder,
after deducting financial advisor fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company.
12
Related
to the March 2025 Inducement Letter, at closing the Holder received 602,000 Common Shares, with the balance of 4,232,470 held in abeyance
as of March 31, 2025, to be released to the Holder at the Holder’s request.
On
January 21, 2025, the Company closed a private placement (the “January 2025 PIPE”) priced at the market under Nasdaq rules,
in which it sold 1,935,412 shares of Common Stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 72,468 shares of Common Stock with
an exercise price of $ 0.001 per share (“January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants”), and 2,007,880 warrants (the “January 2025
PIPE Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,007,880 shares of Common Stock. The January 2025 PIPE Warrants have an exercise
price of $ 1.27 . Certain Company insiders, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and certain
members of the Company’s board of directors, participated in the January 2025 PIPE. These Company insiders purchased an aggregate
of 1,220,476 shares of Common Stock and January 2025 PIPE Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,220,476 shares of Common Stock,
for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $ 1,550,000 . The purchase price per share of Common Stock and accompanying January 2025
PIPE Warrant for these Company insiders was the same as paid by other investors in the January 2025 PIPE. In connection with the January
2025 PIPE, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with the investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to prepare
and file a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the shares of Common Stock underlying the securities sold in
the January 2025 PIPE financing. The Company filed a Form S-3 on January 30, 2025, which was declared effective by the SEC on February
5, 2025. The Company received net cash proceeds of approximately $ 2.3 million from the January 2025 PIPE after deducting underwriters’
discounts and offering expenses of approximately $ 0.3 million. During the first quarter of 2025, all of the January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants
were exercised. As of March 31, 2025, no January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants remained outstanding.
On
September 17, 2024, the Company closed a private placement (the “September 2024 PIPE”) priced at the market under Nasdaq
rules, in which it sold 1,912,569 pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,912,569 shares of Common Stock with an exercise
price of $ 0.001 per share (the “September 2024 Pre-Funded Warrants”), and 1,912,569 series A warrants (the “September
2024 PIPE Series A Common Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,912,569 shares of Common Stock and 1,912,569 series B
warrants (the “September 2024 PIPE Series B Common Warrants” and together with the September 2024 PIPE Series A Warrants,
the “September 2024 PIPE Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,912,569 shares of Common Stock. The September 2024
PIPE Warrants have an exercise price of $ 1.58 . In connection with the September 2024 PIPE, the Company entered into a registration rights
agreement with the investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to prepare and file a registration statement with the SEC registering
the resale of the shares of Common Stock underlying the securities sold in the September 2024 PIPE financing. The Company filed a Form
S-3 on September 19, 2024, which was declared effective by the SEC on September 24, 2024. The Company received net cash proceeds of approximately
3.1 million from the September 2024 PIPE after deducting underwriters’ discounts and offering expenses of approximately $ 0.4 million.
As of December 31, 2024, 905,000 September 2024 Pre-Funded Warrants remained outstanding, which were exercised during the first quarter
of 2025. As of March 31, 2025, no September 2024 Pre-Funded Warrants remained outstanding.
In
June 2024, the Company entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with a sales agent (the “Sales
Agent”), providing for the sale of up to $ 1,157,761 of its shares of Common Stock as set forth in the ATM Agreement. The Sales
Agent will be entitled to compensation at a fixed commission rate of 3.0 % of the gross sales price of the shares of Common Stock sold
pursuant to the ATM Agreement, as well as other transactional fees. During July 2024, the Company issued 355,806 shares of Common Stock
under the ATM Agreement resulting in gross proceeds of $ 1,157,248 before deducting issuance costs. After issuance of the 355,806 shares
during July 2024, $ 513 remained registered under the ATM Agreement. On August 2, 2024, the Company increased the maximum aggregate offering
amount of Common Stock issuable under the ATM Agreement by $ 505,000 , from $ 1,157,761 to $ 1,662,761 . During September 2024, the Company
issued 194,218 shares of Common Stock under the ATM Agreement resulting in additional gross proceeds of $ 504,894 before deducting issuance
costs. During 2024, the Company issued a total of 550,024 shares from its ATM resulting in net proceeds of $ 1.5 million after deducting
issuer costs and other expenses related to setting up and issuing shares from the Company’s ATM. As of March 31, 2025, the Company
does not have any remaining capacity under its ATM Agreement.
13
On
May 21, 2024, the Company closed on inducement agreements (the “May 2024 Inducement”) with certain holders (the “Holders”)
of certain of the Company’s existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 516,336 shares of the Company’s Common Stock,
issued to the Holders on (i) May 26, 2023 (the “May 2023 Warrants”), having an exercise price of $ 32.40 per share, and (ii)
November 2023 New Warrants (as defined below), which were issued in two separate series, each having an exercise price of $ 9.7665 per
share (together with the May 2023 Warrants, the “May 2024 Existing Warrants”). Pursuant to the May 2024 Inducement, the Holders
agreed to exercise for cash their May 2024 Existing Warrants at a reduced exercise price of $ 5.16 per share in consideration for the
Company’s agreement to issue in a private placement (i) new Series A Common Stock purchase warrants (the “New May 2024 Series
A Warrants”) to purchase up to 601,174 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) new Series B Common Stock purchase warrants (the “New
May 2024 Series B Warrants” and together with the New May 2024 Series A Warrants, the “New May 2024 Warrants”) to purchase
up to 431,498 shares of Common Stock. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $ 2.3 million from the exercise of the May 2024
Existing Warrants by the Holders, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses payable by the Company.
Related
to the May 2024 Inducement, during July 2024, the balance of 267,000 abeyance shares related to the May 2024 Warrant Inducement were
released to the investor, leaving no further abeyance shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
Preferred
Stock
While
the Company has 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $ 0.0001 , no shares of preferred stock are outstanding
as of March 31, 2025, or December 31, 2024, respectively.
Warrants
Summary
of Warrants Outstanding
The
warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2025, are exercisable into 12,389,769 shares of Common Stock which had a fair value of $ 1.08 per
share, based on the closing trading price on March 31, 2025. The aggregate intrinsic value of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2025,
is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the closing market price of the Company’s Common
Stock on that date. The intrinsic value of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2025, was zero .
Schedule
of Information of Outstanding Warrants
Quantity
of Warrants
Outstanding
as of
Description
March
31, 2025
December
31, 2024
Exercise
Price
Expiration
Date
Pre-IPO Series 1a Warrants
279
279
$ 4,920.00
11/15/2026
IPO Warrants
12,320
12,320
1,680.00
8/17/2026
IPO Underwriter Warrants
535
535
1,932.00
8/17/2026
March 2023 Offering Placement Agent Warrants
7,549
7,549
57.94
3/16/2028
May 2023 PIPE Placement Agent Warrants
3,736
3,736
42.84
5/23/2028
November 2023 Placement Agent Warrants
16,202
16,202
12.21
11/21/2028
May 2024 Series A Common Warrants
23,340
601,174
4.91
11/21/2029
May 2024 Series B Common Warrants
-
431,498
4.91
5/21/2026
May 2024 Placement Agent Warrants
36,144
36,144
6.45
11/21/2029
September 2024 PIPE Series A Common Warrants
-
1,912,569
1.58
3/18/2030
September 2024 PIPE Series B Common Warrants
-
1,912,569
1.58
3/17/2026
September 2024 PIPE Placement Agent Warrants
133,880
133,880
2.29
3/18/2030
January 2025 PIPE Warrants
2,007,880
-
1.27
(1)
January 2025 PIPE Placement Agent Warrants
140,552
-
1.59
(1)
March 2025 Warrant Inducement Series A Warrants
4,980,806
-
1.284
(1)
March 2025 Warrant Inducement Series B Warrants
4,688,134
-
1.284
(1)
March 2025 Warrant Inducement
Placement Agent Warrants
338,412
-
1.605
(1)
Total warrants outstanding
12,389,769
5,068,455
(1) The warrants issued in January and March 2025 are subject to stockholder approval, at which time the warrants will become exercisable. The warrants will expire five years from the effective date of such stockholder approval for the recently issued Series A Warrants or will expire eighteen months from the effective date of such stockholder approval for the recently issued Series B and Placement Agent Warrants.
14
Warrant
Inducements
In
March 2025, the Company entered into the March 2025 Inducement Letter with a Holder who agreed to exercise 4,834,470 warrants to purchase
Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $ 1.284 per share in exchange for 4,980,806 New Series A Warrants and 4,688,134 New Series
B Warrants with an exercise price of $ 1.284 per share. The March 2025 Inducement Letter, which resulted in the lowering of the exercise
price of the Existing Warrants and the issuance of the New Warrants, is considered a modification of the Existing Warrants under the
guidance ASC 815-40. The modification is consistent with the equity issuance classification under that guidance as the reason for the
modification was to induce the holders of the Existing Warrants to cash exercise their warrants, which raised equity capital and generated
net proceeds of approximately $ 5.8 million. As the Existing Warrants and the New Warrants were classified as equity instruments before
and after the exchange, and as the exchange is directly attributable to an equity offering, the Company recognized the effect of the
modification of approximately $ 4.9 million as an equity issuance cost.
In
May 2024, the Company completed the May 2024 Inducement with the Holders who agreed to exercise 516,336 warrants to purchase Common Stock
at a reduced exercise price of $ 5.16 per share in exchange for 601,174 New May 2024 Series A Warrants and 431,498 New May 2024 Series
B Warrants with an exercise price of $ 4.91 per share. The May 2024 Inducement, which resulted in the lowering of the exercise price of
the May 2024 Existing Warrants and the issuance of the May 2024 New Warrants, is considered a modification of the May 2024 Existing Warrants
under the guidance ASC 815-40. The modification is consistent with the equity issuance classification under that guidance as the reason
for the modification was to induce the holders of the May 2024 Existing Warrants to cash exercise their warrants, which raised equity
capital and generated net proceeds of approximately $ 2.3 million. As the May 2024 Existing Warrants and the May 2024 New Warrants were
classified as equity instruments before and after the exchange, and as the exchange is directly attributable to an equity offering, the
Company recognized the effect of the modification of approximately $ 1.5 million as an equity issuance cost.
5.
Equity Incentive Plan
Under
the Company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) as amended, the Company may grant options to purchase
shares of Common Stock, restricted stock awards, performance stock awards, incentive bonus awards, other cash-based awards or directly
issue shares of Common Stock to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. At the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
held on May 7, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Plan to increase the number of
shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder from 41,937 shares to 79,930 shares. Further at the Company’s 2024 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Plan, to increase the evergreen
provision from one percent to five percent of the total number of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding starting on January 1,
2025. The five percent evergreen provision resulted in an additional 125,888 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the 2021 Plan
as of January 1, 2025.
Stock
awards may be granted at an exercise price per share of not less than 100% of the fair market value at the date of grant. Stock awards
granted are exercisable over a maximum term of 10 years from the date of grant and generally vest over a period of four years for employees
and one year for directors of the Company’s Board and consultants.
As
of March 31, 2025, there remain 63 shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan, as amended.
15
Fair
Value Measurement
The
Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, to determine the fair
value of stock-based awards. The fair value of each employee stock option is estimated on the grant date under the fair value method
using the Black-Scholes model. The estimated fair value of each stock option is then expensed over the requisite service period, which
is generally the vesting period. The assumptions and estimates that the Company uses in the Black-Scholes model are as follows:
●
Fair
Value of Common Stock. The fair value of Common Stock is measured as the Company’s closing price of Common Stock on the
date of grant.
●
Risk-Free
Interest Rate. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes valuation model on the implied yield available
on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a term equivalent to that of the expected term of the options.
●
Expected
Term. The expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding, which
is calculated using the simplified method for stock-based awards granted to employees, as the Company has insufficient historical
information to provide a basis for an estimate. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the vesting
term plus the contractual life of the options. As permitted under ASC 718, the Company has elected to use the contractual term as
the expected term for certain non-employee awards, on an award-by-award basis.
●
Volatility.
The Company determines the price volatility based on the historical volatilities of industry peers as it has limited trading
history for its Common Stock price. Industry peers consist of several public companies in the biotechnology industry with comparable
characteristics, including clinical trials progress and therapeutic indications.
●
Dividend
Yield. The expected dividend assumption is based on the Company’s current expectations about its anticipated dividend policy.
To date, the Company has not declared any dividends to common shareholders and, therefore, the Company has used an expected dividend
yield of zero.
The
following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used for stock options granted during the following periods:
Schedule
of Weighted Average Assumptions used for Stock Options
2025
2024
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2025
2024
Grant date fair value
$ 1.16
$ 7.68
Risk-free interest rate
4.65 %
4.0 %
Dividend yield
0.00 %
0.00 %
Expected life in years
5.9
5.9
Expected volatility
110 %
110 %
Stock-based
Compensation Expense
In
general, stock-based compensation is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to
the classification of cash compensation paid to the employee, director, or consultant to whom the stock award was granted.
16
The
following table summarizes the total stock-based compensation expense related to stock options included in the Company’s statements
of operations:
Schedule
of Stock Based Compensation Expense
2025
2024
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2025
2024
Research and development
$ 7,620
$ 237,337
General and administrative
29,569
349,897
Total
$ 37,189
$ 587,234
Stock
Option Award Activity
A
summary of the Company’s 2021 Plan stock option activity is as follows:
Schedule
of Stock Option Activity
Number
of
Options
Outstanding
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in
Years)
Balance at December 31, 2024
52,341
$ 6.03
9.3
Options granted
152,500
1.38
-
Options exercised
-
-
-
Options cancelled
-
-
-
Balance at March 31, 2025
204,841
$ 2.57
9.6
Options exercisable at March 31, 2025
29,629
$ 5.24
9.3
In
January 2024, the Board unanimously approved to provide employees and directors of the Company the opportunity to cancel outstanding,
out-of-the-money, stock options without consideration, in accordance with an option cancellation agreement. Accordingly, 6,747 of the
6,763 stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2023, were cancelled in February 2024.
In
accordance with accounting guidance provided in ASC 718, since the stock option cancellations were not accompanied by a concurrent grant,
or offer to grant, a replacement award, any unrecognized compensation cost was recognized at the cancellation date. Accordingly, the
Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $ 568,372 resulting from the stock option cancellation during the first quarter
of 2024.
The
aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2025, is calculated as the difference between the exercise
price of the underlying options and the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on March 31, 2025, which was $ 1.08 per
share. The intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2025, was zero .
As
of March 31, 2025, total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options was approximately $ 0.3 million and the weighted average
period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is 2.6 years.
6.
Commitments and Contingencies
Clinical
Trials
During
the first quarter of 2025, the Company announced positive topline results for its XYNGARI™ Phase 3 STAR-1 clinical trial. The total
contract amount with the clinical research organization is approximately $ 7.2 million, which will extend from the fourth quarter of 2023
to the first half of 2025, and which has a 30-day termination notice period. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024,
the Company recognized $ 0.7 million and $ 0.9 million, respectively, in research and development expense for the STAR-1 clinical trial.
17
Supplier
Agreement
As
a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union governments, among others,
have developed coordinated sanctions and export-control measure packages against Russian individuals and entities. The Company is currently
a party to an exclusive supply agreement for the supply of the Spongilla raw material used in XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The counterparty
to this supply agreement is a Russian entity. The imposition of enhanced export controls and economic sanctions on transactions with
Russia and Russian entities by the United States, the United Kingdom, and/or the European Union could prevent the Company from performing
under this existing contract or any future contract it may enter or may prevent the Company from remitting payment for raw material purchased
from the Company’s supplier. The Company has received multiple shipments of raw material from its supplier subsequent to the implementation
of export controls and sanctions, containing additional quantities of Spongilla raw material, which will provide the Company with
sufficient quantities of Spongilla to initiate and complete two Phase 3 studies in moderate-to-severe acne and support filing
a new drug application for XYNGARI™ in acne upon the successful completion of two Phase 3 studies. Depending on the extent and
breadth of new sanctions or export controls that may be imposed against Russia, otherwise or as a result of the impact of the war in
Ukraine, it is possible that the Company’s ability to obtain additional supply of the Spongilla raw material used in XYNGARI™
and DMT410 could be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition.
License
Agreements
On
March 31, 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement, as amended (the “License Agreement”) with Villani, Inc. whereby
Villani has granted the Company an exclusive, sub-licensable, royalty-bearing license (the “License”) under the Licensed
Patents (as defined in the License Agreement), to formulate, develop, seek regulatory approval for, make or sell products that contain
Spongilla lacustris (alone or in combination with other active or inactive ingredients) for the treatment of diseases, disorders
and conditions of the skin, including but not limited to acne, rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, actinic
keratosis and eczema that were developed using certain licensed know-how (“Licensed Products”). The Company is responsible
for the development (including manufacturing, packaging, non-clinical studies, clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval and
commercialization (including marketing, promotion, distribution, etc.)) for all Licensed Products. The original License Agreement was
amended in 2019, and pursuant to the amended License Agreement, the Company was required to make future milestone payments to Villani
in an aggregate amount of up to $ 20.25 million upon the achievement of specified development and sales milestones, payable in cash or
in equity, at the option of Villani, as well as single-digit royalty payments on net sales. On July 30, 2021, the Company further amended
the License Agreement in the Second Amendment to the License and Settlement Agreement (the “Second Amendment”). Pursuant
to the Second Amendment, the Company is required to make future milestone payments to Villani in an aggregate amount of up to $ 40.5 million
upon the achievement of specified development and sales milestones, payable in cash or in equity, at the option of Villani, as well as
single-digit royalty payments on net sales. The Second Amendment includes customary terms relating to, among others, indemnification,
intellectual property protection, confidentiality, remedies, and warranties. As of March 31, 2025, the Company evaluated the likelihood
of the Company achieving the specified milestones and determined that the likelihood is not yet probable and as such no accrual of these
payments is required as of March 31, 2025.
Collaboration
Agreement
On
January 17, 2025, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement (the “Clinical Trial Agreement”) with
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (“Revance”), pursuant to which the Company and Revance intend to conduct a multi-center clinical
trial (the “Trial”) to evaluate the topical application of XYNGARI TM , the Company’s topical Spongilla powder
(formerly referred to as DMT310), with Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm), Revance’s botulinum toxin type A. Pursuant to the terms
of the Clinical Trial Agreement, Revance has granted the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, non-transferable, royalty-free license,
with a right to sublicense (subject to limitations), to use certain Revance intellectual property, solely as necessary or useful for
the Company to conduct the trial under the Clinical Trial Agreement. The Company has granted Revance a similar license to use XYNGARI TM
and other compound(s) under the Clinical Trial Agreement. The Clinical Trial Agreement will terminate upon completion of the Trial,
the delivery of the data resulting from the Trial and the completion of any statistical analyses of the data resulting from the Trial.
Either party may terminate the Clinical Trial Agreement upon a material breach by the other party that remains uncured following 30 days
after the date of written notice of such breach. In addition, either party may terminate the Clinical Trial Agreement immediately upon
written notice if such party reasonably deems it necessary in order to protect the safety, health or welfare of subjects enrolled in
the Trial. The Company has agreed to sponsor, conduct, and fund the Phase 2a clinical trial. As of March 31, 2025, the Company has not
incurred any expenses related to the Revance Clinical Trial Agreement.
18
Registration
Rights Agreement
In
connection with the January 2025 PIPE (see Note 4), the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the purchasers, dated
as of January 21, 2025 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Company
shall file a registration statement covering the resale of all of the registrable securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
with the SEC. The registration statement on Form S-3 required under the Registration Rights Agreement was filed with the SEC on January
30, 2025, and became effective on February 5, 2025.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), which, among others, prohibits the purchasers from reselling
the securities for more than ten consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of fifteen calendar days during any 12-month period,
and should the registration statement cease to remain continuously effective, the Company would be obligated to pay to each purchaser,
on each monthly anniversary of each such Event, an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to the product
of 2.0% multiplied by the aggregate subscription amount paid by such purchaser in the Private Placement, up to a maximum of 12% of the
aggregate subscription amount. As of March 31, 2025, the Company determined that the likelihood of the Company incurring liquidated damages
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is remote, and as such, no accrual of these payments is required as of March 31, 2025.
Legal
Proceedings
In
the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings or threatened legal proceedings. The Company is not a
party to any legal proceedings or aware of any threatened legal proceedings which are expected to have a material adverse effect on its
financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
7.
Segment Information
Operating
segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief
operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company and the
Company’s chief operating decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business in one operating segment,
which is the business of identifying, developing, and commercializing pharmaceutical products for the treatment of medical and aesthetic
skin conditions and diseases.
The
CODM, who is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), President, and Chairman of the Board, manages and allocates resources to
the operations of the Company on an entity-wide basis. The Company’s measure of segment profit or loss is net loss. Managing and
allocating resources on an entity-wide basis enables the CEO to assess the overall level of resources available and how to best deploy
these resources across functions and research and development projects that are in line with the Company’s long-term company-wide
strategic goals. Consistent with this decision-making process, the CEO uses financial information for purposes of evaluating performance,
forecasting future period financial results, allocating resources, and setting incentive targets. Operating expenses are used to monitor
budget versus actual results. The CODM does not review assets in evaluating the results of the Company, and therefore, such information
is not presented.
19
The
following table summarizes the segment’s financial information including the Company’s significant segment expenses:
Schedule of Segment Financial Information
2025
2024
Quarters Ended
March 31,
2025
2024
Research
and development
$
Clinical
726,321
870,915
Nonclinical
144,701
120,403
Personnel
related
410,119
609,423
Total
research and development
$ 1,281,141
$ 1,600,741
General
and administrative
1,058,662
1,602,819
Interest
income
36,216
69,298
Net
loss
$ ( 2,303,587 )
( 3,134,262 )
8.
Related Party Transaction
In
connection with the January 2025 PIPE financing, certain Company insiders, including the Company’s CEO, Chief Financial Officer
and certain members of the Company’s board of directors, participated in the offering. These Company insiders purchased an aggregate
of 1,220,476 Common Stock and Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,220,476 shares of Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase
price of $ 1.55 million. The purchase price per share and accompanying Warrant for these Company insiders was the same as paid by other
investors in the January 2025 PIPE.
9.
Subsequent Events
Subsequent
to March 31, 2025, at the Holder’s request, the Company delivered 345,470 shares of Common Stock which were held in abeyance, related
to the March 2025 Warrant Inducement to the Holder. Accordingly, 3,887,000 shares are held in abeyance, which are not issued and not
outstanding.
As
previously reported, on March 25, 2025, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Stock Market
LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that it is no longer in compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement
for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market as set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5550(b)(1) (“Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”).
Nasdaq has provided the Company with 45 calendar days, or until May 9, 2025, to either regain compliance with the minimum stockholders’
equity standard or submit a plan to regain compliance. If the plan is accepted, then Nasdaq can grant and extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the letter.
20
ITEM
2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our financial statements
and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. This discussion contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, particularly those
under “Risk Factors.”
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations,
assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which
may be beyond our control, and which may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of
historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our
use of words such as “may,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,”
“would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,”
“continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “predict,” “could,”
“intend,” “target,” “potential” and other similar words and expressions of the future.
There
are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statement made by us. These factors include, but are not limited to:
●
our
lack of operating history;
●
the
expectation that we will incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future and will need significant additional capital;
●
our
current and future capital requirements to support our development and commercialization efforts for our product candidates and our
ability to satisfy our capital needs;
●
our
dependence on our product candidates, which are still in various stages of clinical development;
●
our
ability to acquire sufficient quantities of raw material needed to manufacture our drug product;
●
our,
or that of our third-party manufacturers, ability to manufacture cGMP quantities of our product candidates as required for pre-clinical
and clinical trials and, subsequently, our ability to manufacture commercial quantities of our product candidates;
●
our
ability to complete required clinical trials for our product candidates and obtain approval from the FDA or other regulatory agencies
in different jurisdictions;
●
our
lack of a sales and marketing organization and our ability to commercialize our product candidates if we obtain regulatory approval;
●
our
dependence on third parties to manufacture our product candidates;
●
our
reliance on third-party CROs to conduct our clinical trials;
21
●
our
ability to maintain or protect the validity of our intellectual property;
●
our
ability to internally develop new inventions and intellectual property;
●
interpretations
of current laws and the passages of future laws;
●
Impacts
of increased trade tariffs, import quotas or other trade restrictions or measures taken by the United States and other countries,
including the recent and potential changes in U.S. trade policies that have been and may be made by the Trump presidential administration;
●
acceptance
of our business model by investors;
●
the
accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses and capital requirements;
●
our
ability to adequately support organizational and business growth; and
●
other
factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The
foregoing does not represent an exhaustive list of matters that may be covered by the forward-looking statements contained herein or
risk factors that we are faced with that may cause our actual results to differ from those anticipate in our forward-looking statements.
Please see “Risk Factors” for additional risks which could adversely impact our business and financial performance.
All
forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. You are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report, or the date of the document incorporated
by reference into this report. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We have expressed our expectations, beliefs
and projections in good faith, and we believe they have a reasonable basis. However, we cannot assure you that our expectations, beliefs,
or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.
Overview
We
are a late-stage medical dermatology company focused on identifying, developing, and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical product
candidates for the treatment of medical skin diseases and aesthetic applications we believe represent significant market opportunities.
Dermatological
diseases such as acne vulgaris (or acne), psoriasis vulgaris (or psoriasis), hyperhidrosis, and various aesthetic indications, affect
millions of people worldwide each year which may negatively impact their quality of life and emotional well-being. While there are multiple
current treatment options for these indications on the market, we believe that most have significant drawbacks, including underwhelming
efficacy, cumbersome application regimens and varying negative side effects, all of which we believe lead to decreased patient compliance.
A majority of these indications are first treated with topical therapies, however, many patients frequently switch treatments or discontinue
treatment altogether due to patient dissatisfaction. This is primarily due to slow and modest response rates, early tolerability issues,
once or twice daily application schedules and long duration of therapy. Given the limitations with current topical therapies, we believe
there is a significant opportunity to address the needs of frustrated patients searching for topical products that satisfy their dermatological
and lifestyle needs.
Our
two product candidates, XYNGARI™ (formerly DMT310) and DMT410, both incorporate our proprietary, multifaceted, Spongilla technology
to topically treat a variety of dermatological conditions. Our Spongilla technology is derived from a naturally grown freshwater
sponge, Spongilla lacustris or Spongilla , which is processed into a powder that is mixed with a fluidizing agent immediately
prior to application to form an easily applicable paste. Spongilla is a unique freshwater sponge that only grows in commercial
quantities in select regions of the world and under specific environmental conditions, all of which give it its distinctive anti-microbial,
anti-inflammatory, and mechanical properties. The combination of these environmental conditions, the proprietary harvesting protocols
developed with our exclusive supplier, and our post-harvest processing procedures produce a pharmaceutical product candidate that optimizes
the mechanical components as well as the chemical components of the sponge to create a product candidate with multiple mechanisms of
action for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and aesthetic applications.
22
We
believe our Spongilla technology platform will enable us to develop XYNGARI TM as either a single, stand-alone agent,
or used together with other dermatology products to target the topical delivery of chemical compounds into the dermis for a variety of
dermatology indications. We believe the combination of Spongilla’s mechanical and chemical components (which we believe
have demonstrated, in-vitro , anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties), add to the versatility of our Spongilla
technology platform’s effectiveness as a singular product, in the treatment of a wide variety of medical skin diseases like acne
and psoriasis. We also believe the mechanical properties of our Spongilla technology allows for the intradermal delivery of a
variety of large molecules, like botulinum toxins, monoclonal antibodies, or dermal fillers, to targeted treatment sites, through topical
application without the need for needles.
Our
lead product candidate, XYNGARI™, is intended to utilize our Spongilla technology for the once weekly treatment of a variety
of skin diseases, with our initial focus being the treatment of acne, which has a U.S. market size of approximately 30 million patients
seeking treatment. In March 2025, we announced that our XYNGARI™ Phase 3 S pongilla T reatment of A cne R esearch
(STAR-1) trial topline data met all co-primary endpoints at week 12. XYNGARI™ demonstrated highly statistically significant difference
compared with placebo for all primary endpoints after 12 weeks of once weekly treatments. XYNGARI™ patients saw a rapid and sustained
therapeutics treatment effect in absolute reduction in inflammatory lesion counts with a -11.4 lesion reduction at week four, -14.7 lesions
reduction at week 8, and -16.8 lesion reduction at week 12 compared to -8.6, -10.9, and -13.1 lesion reduction for placebo at weeks 4,
8, and 12, respectively. XYNGARI™ patients also saw a rapid and sustained therapeutics treatment effect in absolute reduction in
noninflammatory lesion counts with a -12.4 lesion reduction at week four, -15 lesions reduction at week 8, and -17.3 lesion reduction
at week 12 compared to -8.8, -10.4, and -12.4 lesion reduction for placebo at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively. Lastly, we observed a
sustained therapeutics treatment effect in the investigator’s global assessment of acne with a 11.9% of XYNGARI™ patients
being considered a responder at week four, 21.6% of XYNGARI™ patients being considered a responder at week 8, and 29.4% of XYNGARI™
patients being considered a responder at week 12 compared to 6.2%, 8.0%, and 15.2% of placebo patients being considered a responder at
weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively. The Phase 3 STAR-1 trial was double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, and enrolled 520 patients
with moderate-to-severe acne, age 9 years or older across sites in the United States and Latin America. The co-primary endpoints included
absolute reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts and the improvement in investigators global assessment (IGA) of
acne. Patients were treated once a week for 12 weeks with either XYNGARI™ or placebo and were evaluated monthly. We are currently
evaluating the full data set from the STAR-1 trial. As requested by the FDA, we will have to complete a second Phase 3 trial, STAR-2,
which will be followed by an extension study to follow patients for a 12-month total treatment period. The STAR-2 trial will include
a near identical trial design to the STAR-1 trial and is planned to begin by the end of 2025. Previously XYNGARI™ has shown its
ability to treat the multiple causes of acne in a Phase 2b study where we initially saw a 45% reduction in inflammatory lesions after
four treatments, with XYNGARI™ achieving statistically significant improvements at all time points for all three primary endpoints
throughout the study (reduction in inflammatory lesions, reduction in non-inflammatory lesions, and improvement in IGA). In addition,
based on the multiple mechanisms of action and anti-inflammatory effect seen with the XYNGARI™ acne trial, we completed a Phase
1b proof of concept, or POC, trial in psoriasis where we saw encouraging results warranting further investigation upon our receipt of
adequate funding.
XYNGARI™
consists of two grams of powder processed from the naturally grown freshwater sponge, Spongilla lacustris. The patient mixes the
powder with a fluidizing agent (3% hydrogen peroxide) immediately prior to application to form an easy-to-apply paste. The paste is applied
like a mud mask and is left on the skin for approximately ten to fifteen minutes, after which time it is washed off with water. Due to
the unique combination of XYNGARI™’s mechanical components and chemical components, and based on our Phase 2 acne data, we
believe patients will only need to apply XYNGARI™ once weekly to produce the desired treatment effect. The mechanical components
of the Spongilla powder consist of many microscopic siliceous, needle-like spicules that, when massaged into the skin, penetrate
the stratum corneum (the skin’s outermost protective layer) and create microchannels into the dermis where pro-inflammatory cytokines
and bacteria reside. We believe that the penetration of the spicules also leads to the opening of microchannels, which allow oxygen to
enter pilosebaceous glands, helping to kill C. acnes , which grow in an anaerobic (without oxygen) environment ( C. acnes are
the bacteria that cause inflammatory lesions in acne patients). The spicules also cause turnover of the top layer of dead skin, thereby
increasing collagen production resulting in skin rejuvenation. Additionally, we believe the newly created microchannels provide a conduit
for XYNGARI™’s naturally occurring chemical compounds to be delivered to the dermis and pilosebaceous glands, helping to
kill the C. acnes and reduce inflammation . In addition to anti-microbial compounds, XYNGARI™ also appears to have anti-inflammatory
chemical compounds, as demonstrated during in vitro experiments, that inhibit inflammation through the reduction of C.acnes
stimulated IL-8 production and by inhibiting IL-17A and IL-17F expression in human cell lines. Also, during in vitro studies
of XYNGARI™’s organic compounds, we observed the inhibition of the lipogenesis of sebocytes, which may translate to a reduction
in sebum (an oily and waxy substance produced by the human body’s sebaceous glands) production and the oiliness of the skin in
patients, which was observed by a number of clinical investigators in our Phase 2 acne studies. We believe the combination of these biological
and mechanical effects could be important factors in treating multiple inflammatory skin diseases, as seen in our clinical trials.
23
Our
second product candidate utilizing our Spongilla technology is DMT410. DMT410 is intended to consist of one treatment of our proprietary
sponge powder followed by one topical application of botulinum toxin for delivery into the dermis. Currently, botulinum toxin is only
approved to be delivered to the dermis by intradermal injections, which can be painful for the patient and time-consuming for the physician.
However, we believe DMT410’s ability to topically deliver botulinum toxin into the dermis could have similar levels of efficacy
to existing delivery techniques, with fewer tolerability issues, and a quicker application time, possibly replacing the need for intradermal
injections. We first tested DMT410 in a Phase 1 POC trial in primary axillary hyperhidrosis patients where we observed 80% of patients
achieving a reduction in gravimetric sweat production greater than 50% four weeks after a single treatment. With almost 40% of the hyperhidrosis
market currently being treated with intradermal injections of botulinum toxin, we believe there could be significant opportunity for
DMT410 to break into this market and replace intradermal injections of botulinum toxin. Based on DMT410’s ability to effectively
deliver botulinum toxin to the dermis as observed in the Phase 1 axillary hyperhidrosis trial, we also conducted a Phase 1 POC trial
of DMT410 for the treatment of multiple aesthetic skin conditions, including reduction of pore size, sebum production, and fine lines,
among others. In November 2021, we announced top-line results from this trial, where we saw promising data that we believed warranted
further investigation of DMT410.
On
January 17, 2025, we entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with Revance Therapeutics,
Inc. (“Revance”) where we intend to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial to evaluate the topical application of XYNGARI™
followed by the topical application of DAXXIFY® for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis. The Phase 2a clinical trial
is anticipated to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of XYNGARI™ and DAXXIFY® versus XYNGARI™ and placebo
in patients with moderate-to-severe axillary hyperhidrosis for 16 weeks. The trial is anticipated to be randomized (1:1:1:1), double-blind,
placebo-controlled, enrolling approximately 48 patients across sites in the United States. The endpoints are intended to be the percent
of patients with greater than 50% reduction in gravimetrically measured sweat production from baseline, the percent of patients with
gravimetric sweat production less than 50mg, and the mean absolute change from baseline in gravimetrically measured.
We
have a limited operating history. Since our inception, our operations have focused on developing XYNGARI™ and DMT410, organizing
and staffing our company, raising capital, establishing our supply chain and manufacturing processes, further characterizing the multiple
mechanisms of action of our Spongilla technology, building an intellectual property portfolio, and conducting non-clinical and
clinical trials. We do not have any product candidates approved for marketing and have not generated any revenue from product sales.
We have funded our operations primarily through the sale of our equity securities and debt securities. Since inception, we have raised
an aggregate of approximately $77.5 million of gross proceeds from the sale of our debt and equity securities.
We
have not generated any revenue to date and have incurred significant operating losses. Our net losses were $2.3 million and $3.1 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $68.0 million.
We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our expenses
will increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:
●
complete
development of XYNGARI™ for the treatment of acne, including non-clinical studies and the second Phase 3 clinical trial;
24
●
prepare
and file for regulatory approval of XYNGARI™ for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne;
●
identify
a botulinum toxin partner for DMT410 for the treatment of medical and aesthetic skin conditions and diseases;
●
continue
development of DMT410 for the treatment of treatment of aesthetic and medical skin conditions, including Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical
trials;
●
prepare
for commercialization of XYNGARI™, if approved, including the hiring of sales and marketing personnel;
●
manufacture
our product candidates for additional Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials and commercial sale;
●
hire
additional research and development and selling, general and administrative personnel;
●
maintain,
expand, and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and
●
incur
additional costs associated with operating as a public company.
We
will need additional financing to support our operations. We may seek to fund our operations through public or private equity or debt
financings or other sources. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to
raise capital when needed or on favorable terms would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our
business strategy. We will need to generate significant revenues to achieve profitability, and we may never do so.
Recent
Developments
On
January 21, 2025, we closed a private placement (the “January 2025 PIPE”) priced at the market under Nasdaq rules, in which
we sold 1,935,412 shares of Common Stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 72,468 shares of Common Stock with an exercise
price of $0.001 per share (“January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants”), and 2,007,880 warrants (the “January 2025 PIPE Warrants”)
to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,007,880 shares of Common Stock. The January 2025 PIPE Warrants have an exercise price of $1.27. Certain
our insiders, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and certain members of the our board of directors, participated
in the January 2025 PIPE. These insiders purchased an aggregate of 1,220,476 shares of Common Stock and January 2025 PIPE Warrants to
purchase up to an aggregate of 1,220,476 shares of Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,550,000. The purchase
price per share of Common Stock and accompanying January 2025 PIPE Warrant for these insiders was the same as paid by other investors
in the January 2025 PIPE. In connection with the January 2025 PIPE, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the investor,
pursuant to which we agreed to prepare and file a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the shares of Common
Stock underlying the securities sold in the January 2025 PIPE financing. We filed a Form S-3 on January 30, 2025, which was declared
effective by the SEC on February 5, 2025. We received net cash proceeds of approximately $2.3 million from the January 2025 PIPE after
deducting underwriters’ discounts and offering expenses of approximately $0.3 million. During the first quarter of 2025, all of
the January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants were exercised. As of March 31, 2025, no January 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants remained outstanding.
On
March 27, 2025, we announced that our XYNGARI™ Phase 3 STAR-1 trial met all co-primary endpoints by achieving highly statistically
significant difference when compared with placebo after 12 weeks of once weekly treatments. At week 12, XYNGAR™ achieved IGA success
(2-point change and 0 or 1) in 29.4% of patients vs. 15.2% of patients on placebo (p<0.001), XYNGARI™ saw a -16.8 inflammatory
lesion reduction compared with a -13.1 inflammatory lesion reduction for placebo (p<0.001), and XYNGARI™ saw a -17.3 noninflammatory
lesion reduction compared with a -12.4 noninflammatory lesion reduction for placebo (p<0.001). Based on this positive data, we plan
initiate the second XYNGARI™ Phase 3 STAR-2 trial by the end of 2025.
On
March 27, 2025, we entered into an inducement offer letter agreement (the “March 2025 Inducement Letter”) with a holder (the
“Holder”) of certain of our existing warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,834,470 shares of our common stock. Such existing
warrants were made up of (i) certain of the May 17, 2024 (the “May 2024 Warrants”), which were issued in two separate series,
having an exercise price of $4.91 per share, and (ii) the September 16, 2024, which were issued in two separate series, having an exercise
price of $1.58 per share (the “September 2024 Warrants” and together with the May 2024 Warrants, the “Existing Warrants”).
Pursuant to the March 2025 Inducement Letter, the Holder agreed to exercise for cash its Existing Warrants at a reduced exercise price
of $1.284 per share in consideration for our agreement to issue in a private placement (i) new Series A common stock purchase warrants
(the “New Series A Warrants”) to purchase up to 4,980,806 shares of Common Stock (the “New Series A Warrant Shares”)
and (ii) new Series B common stock purchase warrants (the “New Series B Warrants” and together with the New Series A Warrants,
the “New Warrants”) to purchase up to 4,688,134 shares of Common Stock (the “New Series B Warrant Shares” and
together with the New Series A Warrant Shares, the “New Warrant Shares”). We received net proceeds of approximately $5.8
million from the exercise of the Existing Warrants by the Holder, after deducting financial advisor fees and other offering expenses
payable by us.
ATM
Agreement
In
June 2024, we entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright &Co., LLC (“HCW”),
as sales agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time through HCW, shares of our common stock for aggregate proceeds
of up to $1,662,761 (upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in the ATM Agreement). During the three months
ended March 31, 2025, we sold no shares of common stock under the ATM Agreement and have no capacity to sell shares pursuant to the ATM
Agreement remaining.
25
Critical
Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
We
have based our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations on our financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial
statements requires us to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis,
we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to clinical development expenses. We base our estimates on historical
experience and on various other factors that we believe to be appropriate under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While
our significant accounting policies are more fully discussed in Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our unaudited
financial statements contained within this Form 10-Q, we believe that the following accounting policies are critical to the process of
making significant judgments and estimates in the preparation of our financial statements.
Research
and Development Expenses
We
rely on third parties to conduct our clinical studies and to provide services, including data management, statistical analysis, and electronic
compilation. Once our clinical trials begin, at the end of each reporting period, we will compare the payments made to each service provider
to the estimated progress towards completion of the related project. Factors that we will consider in preparing these estimates include
the number of patients enrolled in studies, milestones achieved, and other criteria related to the efforts of our vendors. These estimates
will be subject to change as additional information becomes available. Depending on the timing of payments to vendors and estimated services
provided, we will record net prepaid or accrued expenses related to these costs.
Warrants
We
perform an assessment of warrants upon issuance to determine their proper classification in the financial statements based upon the warrant’s
specific terms, in accordance with the authoritative guidance provided in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) , and ASC 815-40,
Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (“ASC 815-40”) . The assessment considers whether
the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480 and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity
classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed in our own Common Stock and whether the warrant holders could
potentially require cash settlement of the warrants.
For
issued or modified warrants that meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component
of additional paid-in capital. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants
are required to be liability-classified and recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and remeasured at fair value
at each balance sheet date thereafter. We have performed an assessment of all warrants issued and modified and determined that our warrants
are equity classified.
Fluctuations
in Operating Results
Our
results of operations have fluctuated significantly from period to period in the past and are likely to continue to do so in the future.
We anticipate that our quarterly and annual results of operations will be impacted for the foreseeable future by several factors, including
the progress and timing of expenditures related to the development of our product candidates. Due to these fluctuations, we believe that
the period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance.
26
Results
of Operations
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2025, and 2024
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2025
2024
Difference
Operating expenses:
Research and
development
$ 1,281,141
$ 1,600,741
$ (319,600 )
General
and administrative
1,058,662
1,602,819
(544,157 )
Total
operating expenses
2,339,803
3,203,560
(863,757 )
Loss from operations
(2,339,803 )
(3,203,560 )
863,757
Other income and expenses:
Interest income
36,216
69,298
(33,082 )
Net loss
$ (2,303,587 )
$ (3,134,262 )
$ 830,675
Research
and Development Expenses
Research
and development expenses decreased by $0.3 million from $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $1.3 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2025. The decrease in research and development expenses resulted from $0.1 million of decreased clinical
expenses from the XYNGARI™ STAR-1 acne study, which completed enrollment during the fourth quarter of 2024, and $0.2 million of
decreased stock-based compensation resulting from the cancellation of out-of-the-money stock options during the first quarter of 2024.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses decreased by $0.5 million from $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $1.1 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2025. This decrease resulted from $0.3 million of decreased stock-based compensation resulting from
the cancellation of out-of-the-money stock options during the first quarter of 2024 and $0.2 million of decreased audit fees.
Other
Income and Expenses
Interest
income decreased by $33,082 from $69,298 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $36,216 for the three months ended March 31, 2025.
The decrease in interest income resulted from decreased cash balances.
Cash
Flows
The
following table summarizes our cash flows from operating and financing activities:
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
2025
2024
Statements of cash flows data:
Total net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$ (1,934,066 )
$ (2,704,454 )
Financing activities
$ 8,491,764
$ -
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$ (6,557,698 )
$ (2,704,454 )
Operating
activities
Cash
used in operations of $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was the result of the net loss of $2.3 million, offset
by increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $0.3 million, as well as the decrease of prepaid expenses and
other current assets of approximately $0.1 million.
Cash
and cash equivalents used in operations of $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was the result of the net loss of
$3.1 million, offset by $0.6 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expense, a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
of $0.1 million, and decreases in accounts payable and accrued and other current liabilities of $0.3 million.
27
Financing
activities
Cash
provided by financing activities of $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was the result of the January 2025 PIPE financing
which raised net proceeds of $2.3 million, and the March 2025 Inducement financing which raised net proceeds of $6.2 million.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Since
our inception, we have not generated any revenue or commercialized any products. As of March 31, 2025, our cash and cash equivalents
totaled $9.7 million, and we had an accumulated deficit of $68.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and the year ended
December 31, 2024, we used cash of $1.9 million and approximately $11.1 million, respectively, in operations. We expect our cash resources
to fund operations into the first quarter of 2026. We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future.
Historically,
our principal sources of cash have included proceeds from the issuance of common and preferred equity and proceeds from the issuance
of debt. Our principal uses of cash have included cash used in operations (including clinical development of our product candidates and
general and administrative expenses) and payments for license rights. We expect that the principal uses of cash in the future will be
for continuing operations, funding of research and development, and general working capital requirements. We expect that as research
and development expenses continue to grow, we will need to raise additional capital to sustain operations and research and development
activities.
Funding
Requirements
We
plan to focus in the near term on the development, regulatory approval, and potential commercialization of XYNGARI™ for the treatment
of acne. We anticipate we will incur net losses for the next several years as we complete clinical development of XYNGARI™ for
the treatment of acne and psoriasis and continue research and development of DMT410 for the treatment of aesthetic and medical skin conditions.
In addition, we plan to seek opportunities to identify, acquire or in license and develop additional drug candidates, potentially build
commercial capabilities, and expand our corporate infrastructure. We may not be able to complete the development and initiate commercialization
of these programs if, among other things, our clinical trials are not successful or if the FDA does not approve our drug candidate arising
out of our current clinical trials when we expect, or at all.
Our
primary uses of capital are, and we expect will continue to be, compensation and related expenses, clinical costs, external research
and development services, legal and other regulatory expenses, and administrative and overhead costs. Our future funding requirements
will be heavily determined by the resources needed to support the development of our drug candidates.
We
believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
into the first quarter of 2026. We have based this estimate of cash runway on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize
our available capital resources sooner than we expect. We anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future.
These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for the one-year period following the date that
these financial statements were issued. We will require additional capital to complete the Phase 3 studies for XYNGARI™ for the
treatment of acne, continue development of XYNGARI™, and to pursue in-licenses or acquisitions of other drug candidates. Therefore,
based on our recurring losses from operations incurred since inception, expectation of continuing operating losses for the foreseeable
future, and the need to raise additional capital to finance future operations, we are developing plans to mitigate this risk, which may
consist of raising additional capital through some combination of equity or debt financings, and/or potentially new collaborations, business
transactions, and reducing cash expenditures. If we are not able to secure adequate additional funding, we may be forced to make significant
reductions in our operations and the pursuit of our growth strategy. In that event, we may have to delay, scale back, or eliminate some
or all of our research and development programs and activities which could adversely affect our business prospects, or we may be unable
to continue operations.
28
We
may raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities. In such an event, the terms of these securities
may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of the holders of our Common Stock.
Because
of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical drugs, we are
unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors,
including:
●
the
number and characteristics of the drug candidates we pursue;
●
the
scope, progress, results, and costs of researching and developing our drug candidates, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical
trials;
●
the
timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for our drug candidates;
●
the
cost of manufacturing our drug candidates and any drugs we successfully commercialize;
●
our
ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements;
●
the
costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending, and enforcing patent claims, including litigation costs
and the outcome of such litigation; and
●
the
timing, receipt and amount of sales of, or milestone payments related to or royalties on, our current or future drug candidates,
if any.
To
continue to grow our business over the longer term, we plan to commit substantial resources to research and development, clinical trials
of our product candidates, and other operations and potential product acquisitions and in licensing. We have evaluated and expect to
continue to evaluate a wide array of strategic transactions as part of our plan to acquire or in license and develop additional products
and product candidates to augment our internal development pipeline. Strategic transaction opportunities that we may pursue could materially
affect our liquidity and capital resources and may require us to incur additional indebtedness, seek equity capital or both. In addition,
we may pursue development, acquisition or in licensing of approved or development products in new or existing therapeutic areas or continue
the expansion of our existing operations. Accordingly, we expect to continue to opportunistically seek access to additional capital to
license or acquire additional products, product candidates or companies to expand our operations, or for general corporate purposes.
Strategic transactions may require us to raise additional capital through one or more public or private debt or equity financings or
could be structured as a collaboration or partnering arrangement. We have no arrangements, agreements, or understandings in place at
the present time to enter into any acquisition, in licensing or similar strategic business transaction.
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
We
do not currently own or lease any office space.
We
enter into contracts in the normal course of business with contract research organizations for clinical trials, preclinical research
studies and testing, manufacturing and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination
upon notice, and therefore we believe that our non-cancelable obligations under these agreements are not material.
JOBS
Act Accounting Election
We
are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the
JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the
JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption
from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public
companies that are not emerging growth companies.
29
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
See
Item 1 of Part I, “Notes to Financial Statements — Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for a
discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
ITEM
3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
applicable.
ITEM
4: CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required
to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported,
within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation,
controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits
under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal
financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management
necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Based
on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Evaluation
of Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during
the period to which this report relates that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because
of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. From time to time, we make
changes to our internal control over financial reporting that are intended to enhance its effectiveness and which do not have a material
effect on our overall internal control over financial reporting.
30
PART
II – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM
1A: RISK FACTORS
Our
operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk
Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2025. No material
changes to such risk factors have occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
ITEM
2: UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM
3: DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM
4: MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5: OTHER INFORMATION
2025
Annual Meeting of Stockholders Date
Our
Board of Directors has set the date of our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) for July 15, 2025.
The exact time and place of the 2025 Annual Meeting will be specified in our Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting and related proxy statement
for the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Because
the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting will differ by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
the previously announced deadline for stockholder proposals for the 2025 Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act
is no longer applicable. Under the new deadline set by the Company, any stockholder proposal intended to be included in our proxy materials
for the 2025 Annual Meeting pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 must be mailed to: Dermata Therapeutics, Inc., 3525 Del Mar Heights Rd.,
#322, San Diego, CA 92130, Attn.: Corporate Secretary, on or before the close of business on May 22, 2025. In addition to complying with
this deadline, stockholder proposals intended to be included in our proxy materials for the 2025 Annual Meeting must also comply with
all applicable SEC rules, including Exchange Act Rule 14a-8.
Because
the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting will not be more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after the anniversary
date of our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the previously announced deadline for stockholder proposals or nominations under our
bylaws for the 2025 Annual Meeting is still applicable. Pursuant to the bylaws, the deadline for any stockholder proposal or nomination
other than pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 for the 2025 Annual Meeting was on February 6, 2025.
In
addition, to comply with the universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other
than nominees approved by the Board of Directors must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the
Exchange Act.
Rule
10b5-1 Trading Plans
During
the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025, no director or “officer” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) of
the Company adopted or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,”
as each term is defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K.
31
ITEM
6: EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description
4.1
Form of January 2025 PIPE Pre-Funded Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025).
4.2
Form of January 2025 PIPE Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025).
4.3
Form of January 2025 PIPE Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025).
4.4
Form
of March 2025 New Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on March 28, 2025).
4.5
Form
of March 2025 HCW Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on March 28, 2025).
10.1
Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 21, 2025)
10.2
Form of January 2025 PIPE Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025).
10.3
Form of Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025).
10.4
Form
of March 2025 Inducement Letter (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on March 28, 2025).
31.1*
Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
31.2*
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).
32.1**
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b).
101.INS*
XBRL
Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within
the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH*
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished, not filed.
†
Indicates a management contract or compensation plan, contract or arrangement.
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dermata
Therapeutics, Inc.
Date:
May 14, 2025
By:
/s/
Gerald T. Proehl
Gerald
T. Proehl
President
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
By:
/s/
Kyri K. Van Hoose
Kyri
K. Van Hoose
Senior
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
33
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.